Schools are invited to join this immersive, inclusive, enrichment project for secondary schools, including SEND, Alternative Provision, specialist provisions and Sixth Form colleges. It is based on the BBC documentary series ‘My Family, the Holocaust and Me’ featuring Robert Rinder MBE and families. It is a project that can be led after school, in a club or school enrichment offer by teachers of History, Religious Education, English, Art, Music, Modern Foreign Languages or the social sciences and would contribute to personal development, citizenship, Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural development and community cohesion.
How to get involved
- Whether a new school embarking on the project for the first time, or an alumni colleague/school with a new student cohort, join the online teacher briefings for those coordinating the project in school: Thurs 14 Nov or Thurs 5 Dec 3.30pm, via zoom Meeting ID: 924 835 3600 Passcode: 878776
- The next online school launch – student workshop – where students and teachers begin the project takes place: Tues 26 Nov, or Tues 17 Dec, 2.00-3.30pm, via zoom Meeting ID: 924 835 3600 Passcode: 878776. Students will each need a printed out copy of the respective family journey workbook allocated your school (confirmed at online teacher orientations or via email) plus a stash of post-it notes for the group.
- The project website can be found and explored here: https://www.htfmeus.co.uk/
- Download the project flyer here
The #HtFMeUs project aims to:
- Deepen knowledge and understanding of the Holocaust (the Holocaust) and to complement existing curriculum provision.
- To humanise that history with each school immersed in one of four family stories from the documentary (their family)
- To facilitate opportunities to reflect as individuals what this history, family story, experiences mean (‘me’)
- To enable schools to collectively consider what this history, family story, experience means to school and local community (‘us’)
The project is FREE – it requires a coordinator teacher who will facilitate the project in their school – this might be a history, RE, English, ART, MFL, music, citizenship or social science colleague, or it could a cross-curricular and inter-disciplinary opportunity for colleagues.
The project typically takes the format of a group of students, usually 15-30 participating, in an after-school enrichment club (though in some schools the project has been adopted by a whole year group or indeed a whole school, or with 3-5 students in specialist education settings), meeting weekly or fortnightly. Some alumni project schools have also since engagement, adopted to the project into their curriculum, drop down days, personal development or enrichment and pastoral windows. The project supports civics, emotional literacy, SMSC, civics and a range of themes, concepts and school priorities, including community cohesion, safeguarding and more – and is inclusive for all learners, both stage and age.
Essentially, the project sees your school/students allocated one of four family stories featured in the BBC documentary and taking up a variety of challenges, activities and opportunities that sees them immersed in the history, reflecting on contemporary relevance and applying their skills, passions and talents.
If interested do reach out, we will set you up with a project link and identity which family your school will be allocated.
Contact details
- Nicola Wetherall MBE
- Lead Practitioner, RWBA Holocaust, genocide and human rights programme (HPG)
- Royal Wootton Bassett Academy (RWBA)
- Founder of #HtFMeUs project and #EYP2CtW conference series.
- nwetherall@rwba.ascendlearningtrust.org.uk
- @RWBAHolocaust #HtFMeUs
The #HtFMeUs project is run by RWBA and supported by Ascend Learning Trust, Pears Foundation, with partners BBC/Wall to Wall Media, the families, UCL Centre for Holocaust Education and 45′ Aid Society.